Congo red is an organic compound, the sodium salt of 3,3′-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diyl)bis(4-aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid). It is an azo dye. Congo red is water-soluble, yielding a red colloidal solution; its solubility is greater in organic solvents.
Congo red is a benzidine-based anionic diazo dye. It is a histological dye which binds to many amyloid proteins and is used for the quantification of amyloid β-peptide aggregation.Congo red also interacts with β-D-glucans, polysaccharides containing continuous β-(1→4)-linked D-glucopyranosyl units and some hemicellulosic galactoglucomannans.